Description

June 14, 1960 T. D. BRITT FOOTBALL TRAINING MACHINE Filed June 3, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 227 .0. FIR 71 United States Patent 2,940,757 FOOTBALL TRAINING MACHINE Tom D. Britt, P.O. Box 23, Chillicothe, Tex. Filed June 3, 1957, Ser. No. 663,279 Claims. (Cl. 273-55) This invention relates to equipment for teaching defensive or offensive tactics to football players and for the development of co-ordinated play and cooperation of the team, and to teach the players to charge and to follow through when the ball snaps, and whereby both the coach and the players are able to determine the driving power of the players being trained.

Various devices have been proposed heretofore to teach the art of charging and offensive blocking, but such devices have, for the most part, performed only a single function, rather than multiple functions, and have given neither the players nor the coach the true simulated defensive charging and offensive blocking movements, in such manner as to teach the players coordination, which coordinated action is registered in such manner as to provide visible results of the performance of the players.

An object of this invention is to provide a football training machine, which coordinates the movement of the football with the movement of the machine, to simulate the advance of the oifensive team and also of the defensive team, simultaneously with the movement of the football by the center so as to enable the players to exert a driving action against the device whereby the coordination and driving power of the players can be determined.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device whereby the players may obtain needed exercise and learn the correct technique of defensive charging.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine which may be remotely controlled, to give an element of surprise tothe players.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a football practice machine which may be driven forward for a loss when the players exert sufiicient driving power at the right time.

Another object of the which will develop form and position, injury.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which is light in weight, simple in construction, which may be readily moved from place to place, and which gives an effective simulation of the action of an opposing team.

With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device showing a side, front and the top of the machine in one position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the machine showing the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, and showing alternate positions of the machine in dashed outline, and showing the anchor plows in raised position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except the anchor plows are shown as engaged in the ground;

invention is to provide a device in the players, balance, agility, power, with a minimum possibility of bodily or the like.

brought out hereinafter.

Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the device;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view thereof;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the latch mechanism in full outline, which holds the football in one position, showing the tripped position of the latch mechanism in dashed outline, and showing the football in another position in dashed outline; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view showing a portion of the carriage, a portion of the tubular track, and showing the latch detent mechanism in position to hold the carriage in set position.

With more detailed reference to the drawing, the numeral 1 generally a frame having transverse axles 2 and 4 thereacross, on which axles wheels 6 and 8, respectively, are journaled, in such manner that the wheels will be exterior of the frame 1. A pair of upright standards 10 are mounted on the front end of the frame 1, which standards 10 converge inwardly substantially to form an A-member, with a brace 12 extending between the upper .portions of the standards. The uprights 10, when viewed from the side as shown in Fig. 2, present substantially vertical members.

A pair of upright tubular members 14 extend rearwardly of the frame at an acute angle with respect to the horizontal, which tubular members 14 converge medially inward, as will best be seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 4. The lower ends of the frame members 14 are secured to the respective frame members.

Tubular members 16 and :18 are joined in end-to-end relation, the forward end of member 16 being secured to upright member 10, and the rear ends of members 18 are secured to the upper end of members 14, so as to present a light weight, rigid frame, which frame is made of thin section tubular members, such as steel, aluminum The members 18 are preferably positioned in side by side relation, with the rear ends thereof being lower than the front ends thereof, which members 18 form a track. The members 16 and 18 are further braced to frame 1 by means of braces 20, which braces 20 are connected at their upper ends to the members 18, at the juncture thereof with the member 16.

A wheeled carriage, designated generally by the numeral 22, has pairs of rollers 24 thereon, on each side of tubular members 18, so that the carriage 22 will be guided along tubular members 18, as will be more fully The wheeled carriage 22 has an upstanding bracket 26 secured to the rear end thereof, to which bracket is attached a transverse member 28 by means of bolts '30. The transverse member 28 extends outward a substantial distance on each side of the frame 1. Each end of the transverse member 28 has an aperture formed transversely therethrough, which apertures are in substantially parallel relation with tubular track members 18. Each of the apertures in the member 28 has a bolt 32 slidably positioned therein, which respective bolts extend rearward of the transverse member 28 a substantial distance, and each bolt 32 has a pad or cushion 32 secured on the rear end thereof. A compression spring 36 is telescoped over each of the bolts 32 intermediate the respective pads 34 and the transverse member 27, so, upon movement of the pad or cushion 34 forwardly, the spring will compress to permit the yielding action of the pad, under the impact of a player, which will cushion the movement of the player, and reduce the likelihood of shock or injury to the player.

A cable 38 is secured to the upstanding bracket 26, approximately medially thereof, which cable 38 passes rearward and is guided around pulleys 40, so the cable 38 extends forward to a further pulley 42, which pulley 42 is journaled on a shaft which extends between uprights 10 at the forward end of the device, with a further ing upright me I a 'from the position as shown in dashed outline in Fig. 6 to which cable is anchored to the forward end of spring 44.

The opposite end of the spring 44 is anchored to a crossbar 46 on the upward and rearward end of rearwardly extending braces 14.' 'Thespr'ing 44 is a tension spring and is connected'to cable 38in such man er that, as "the heeled carriage 2 2 is moved forward, tension is applied to the spring.

An'arrn 48 is hingeably connected to cross-bar 50 by means of a hinge'SZ, whichc'ross-barii) is attached to the members 14. The arm 48 carrying a football 54, will be free to move forward under the tension of spring 56,- upon the'tripping of a latch member 58, which "e'ngages hinge member 52,- when in the position as shown in full outline in Big. 6. The latch member 58 is beveled, to permit the automatic setting'of' the football when it is swung rearward,' "as from the "position as" shown in dashed outline inFig'; 6, to that shown in .full outline therein. v v

The latch 58. is pivotally connnected at 6 0 to an outstanding bracket' 62 on one of the rearwardly upwardly extending members 14. A tension spring 64 'i's positioned between the latch 58 and rearwardly extendber 14 so 'as to move the latch member that shown in full outline therein, upon the release of tension'fr'om cord 66.

' Thefcord66extends from an end of latch lever 58 through a pulley 68 and is attached to the lower end of pivoted lever 70, which lever is pivoted to member 16 by means of a pin72, in such'manne'r' that the opposite end of the lever from the'cor'd 66,'has a pin74 projecting outwardlytherefr'om 'beneath'a control rod 76. *The control rod 76- is hingeably connected 'to wheeled car ri'age'22, and the control rod 76 extends through upstanding'loop 78 on the upper side of tubular members 18, so that a shoulder 80, on the rod 76, will engage transverse bar 82, secured to'the upper side of V tubular members 18, to hold the wheeled carriage 22 .so that the pad or cushion members 34 will'be in the positions as indicated at a, which is'the initial set posi- 'tion. I 1

V The bar 76. extends forwardly and has an outstanding projection 84onione side thereof, to engage an upstanding lever 86, whichl'ever is pivotally mounted on the side of tubular member 16 by ine'an's'ofa pivot pin '88,

which lever extends downward and has a Spring'QQLc nnected near the end thereof, which spring urges the lower end. of the lever upward. A cable "92' extehds from the lower end of the lever 86 through a pulley 94 and'i's'a'ttached to. a latch m'echanism 96, which latch mechanism is pivotedto a transverse bar 98'. A compressionspring 100 is positioned'between abutment 102, mounted on cross-brace 98 which extends between the members of frame 1 and the latch 96 to urge the'latchinto' engagement'with 'an outstanding lug 104 on transverse rod 106, when "the rod is in position as indicated in Fig. 3.1 The rod. 106 extends between'a pair of arms 108 which arms are mounted on a shaft 110, which extends between the side members of frame 1, and which arms are exterior ofthe frame 1.

Each outer end of each arm carries a socket 112, 'in each ofwhich sockets a downwardly extending plow or ground engagingpointedtooth, 114, is adjustably secured by means of a set screw 116.

A spring 118 is connected to the transverse bar 106 and to a toggle action mechanism, such as a loadti'ght I ener. 'or boomer, 120. The other end; of; the load 'tigh'tener 120 is connected to a lug 122. on crossbar 12.

. plows 1 14 'to be buried into. thef'ground, as indicated in" Fig. 3, so that the: latch96 will engagemerrojc- @9 4 The cord 66 extends from arm 70 through a pulley 124, at the forward end of the device, which cord may be directed either outward to the right or to the left for actuation by a coach or operator.

Operation It is preferable to use the football practice device on an open sod or earthenplot of ground. To initially put the device, inposition for operation, a toggle action load fastening device or boomer 120 is loosened to a position which will permit the. spring 118to be sufficiently loose so that, by stepping on pivoted arms 108 and crossbar 106, the plows 114 maybe moved from the position, as shown in Fig.12, to that shownin Fig. 3, so. as 'to engage into the ground G. A lug 104 will then engage beneath latch mechanism 96,- with the spring 100 maintaining'the latch 96 in engaged relation with lug 104 on transverserod 1 06. with the plows, 114 thus locked in engages position; in the ground, the load tightening device12 0"is moved to a position to tighten spring 118.. With the device positioned in this manner, the pads 34 are moved'forward manually, from the position'as shown in full outline at b, in FigfZ, tothat shown at arin, dashed outline therein, whereupon, the wheeled'carriage 22 and rod 76 will move forward until shoulderon red; 76 engages an abutment. 82secured to the top of tubular members 18. 'In so doing, a cable38, which is attached standard 1 4 s o asfto engage. the rear side of hinge 52,

so' as to ho'l'd the ball 54 in a position as shown 'in dashed outlinein Fig. 2. With the end of the latch lever, oppositethe hinge engaging portion, secured to a cord 66,

which cord passes throughpulley 68 and is attached to trip lever. 70, which enables anoperator or coach to control the tripping of. levers. 48 and 76, by means of cord 66, at ajpointijremote from the device.

The lever 70 isp'vot'cd at 7'2 insuch manner that an utstanding projection 74, on rod70, passesbeneath rod 76." The singularity of the lever 70 is such that, upon movement of cord-.66, the, projection 74 will raise the rodupward so that the shoulder 80will be. raised above abutment '82,wh'ich will permit the rod to slide forward in guided relation within upstanding guide members78, as will best be seen in Fig. 2.

Upon pullingthecordv66, the; lever 70andthelatch 58 will be simultaneously moved, and the movement of lever 70 is so co-ordinated with the movement of the latch 58, thatthe projection. 74 wi1l lift shoulder. 80 out ofeng'agement with abutment 82 simultaneously with the disengagement of the nose portion of the latch member 58 'from the hinge member 52. This will permit the ball 54 'to' move from the position asshown in dashed outline in-Fig. 2 tothat shown in full outline therein, whichsimulatesthe snapping. of the ball, when the balll'is put into play. 1 7

With the rod 76. released to. permit the wheeled car ria'ge 22, which carries the pads 34, to moverearward,

, the defensive, players, one oppositeeachqpad 34 will then jst'art a forward movement' or ,drive. against the pads,

therefore, V the defensive .players worlc in coordinated relation, and both pads arehit simultaneously, before they {reaeh theposition as shown in run outline, as indicated at b, aQproiection cause. the levepto pivot 9P F 1 8. eetts.- eve end h r willzmove aware? prs afi sr flmq forward; If the pads 34 are hit by the players, btbfQIQPOSj-QQRbireached, and are driven forward, the position is indicated at c.

In so doing the cord 92, which is attached to the lower end of lever 86, will move upward, which will cause latch member 96, which is attached to cord 92, to compress spring 100, whereupon, the latch 96 becomes disengaged from lug 104 and the, spring 118 will move arms 108 and plows 114 from position as indicated in Fig. 3 to that as indicated in Fig. 2. If the defensive charge is properly co-ordinated, the entire wheeled, mobile blocking device will be moved forward on the wheels 6 and 8, a distance comparable to that of driving back offensive players.

It is to be pointed out that one player charging one pad 34 is inefifective, and the tangible results would be negligible, but with the co-ordinated forward movement of two players starting as the ball begins to move, a defensive charge can be made by the players driving forward and upward, their movements in aligned relation of members 18, the movement of the pads 34 and of the entire machine, will indicate the striking power of the defensive players, in very much the same manner as if actual players were used in the offensive play, but with the possibility of injury to the players being minimized. By having the controls of the machine arranged in a manner as set out above, an operator, such as a coach or an instructor, can manipulate the controls, and two defensive players, operating as a team, can co-ordinate the beginning of their movement with the actual beginning of the movement of the football 54. In this manner actual game practice is closely simulated.

In practice with the machine, the two defensive players opposite the respective pads, are in position with their forearms and shoulders in close guarding relation to the pad, however, if the response of the defensive players to the movement of the ball 54 is not practically instantaneous, the pads will plunge against the players, thereby signifying that the players are not providing good defensive action. The springs are so positioned between the respective pads 34 and the transverse member 28,

' that the spring will compress upon impact by the defensive players, with the pads 34, thereby providing, for the players, the maximum of safety.

While the invention has been described in some particularity for teaching or training the players defensive tactics, the machine can be used equally as well in training offensive tactics, by working out certain drills in connection with the movement of die ball and the movement of the charging element, as will be more fully brought out hereinafter.

The charging element is so spring loaded that it will move toward the opposing players, upon the snapping of the ball, in the manner opposing players would move. The snapping of the hall 54, that is, moving the ball from one position to another upon the tripping of latch 58 will develop visual alertness and corresponding reaction, which will enable the players to work out the best charging tactics at the most opportune time and in the best position to overcome the resistance offered by the machine, in such manner as to drive the charging element forward until the plows 114 are released and the machine is driven forward. The various actions of which teaches the initial charge and a continued drive in such manner that the players have to develop balance and to move the machine with increasing speed. In short, the device teaches correct form, power, position and pursuit, thereby greatly aiding the instructor or coach with a minimum of explanation.

In using the machine to teach offensive action, the movement of the players is co-ordinated with the movement of the ball so there is no lag by the ofl ensive players upon the snapping of the ball.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in some detail for one embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes may be made in the minor details of construction without departing from the scope of the invention or the scope of the appended -claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a football training machine, a frame, wheels mounted on said frame for rolling movement thereof over the terrain, a football swingably mounted on said frame near an end thereof for swinging in a medial, vertical plane in the normal line of movement of the machine, a charging element movably mounted on said frame for charging movement in one direction, means tending to move said charging element along said frame, detent means for selectively retaining said charging element in a set position, resilient means urging movement of said football from one position to another in a direction opposite the movement of said charging element, detent means holding said football in a normally set position, and means to release said charging element and said football substantially simultaneously for movement in opposite directions.

2. A football training machine as defined in claim 1, wherein ground engaging means retains said frame against normal rolling movement, and wherein release means are actuated by said charging means to release said ground engaging means.

3. A football training machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means tending to move said charging element along said frame is a resilient means.

4. A football training machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said means to release said charging element and said football substantially simultaneously is a cord-like means which is attached to the respective detent means.

5. A football practice apparatus comprising a pair of spaced apart frame members, a wheel mounted near each end of each of said frame members for rolling along the terrain, upright members secured to said frame members, a longitudinal member secured at the upper ends of said upright members, a carriage movably mounted on said longitudinal member, a transverse member secured to said carriage and having a resilient abutment near each outer end thereof, latch means to lock said carriage carrying said transverse member a spaced distance from an end of said longitudinal member, resilient means urging said carriage along said longitudinal member in one direction, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame near an end thereof and adjacent said transverse member, a football element mounted on said arm, resilient means normally urging said football in an opposite direction from the normal, resilient direction of movement of said carriage, latch means engageable with said arm to maintain said football in a set position against the tension of said resilient means, and means to release said pivoted arm on which said football element is mounted and for releasing said first-mentioned latch means so said football element and said carriage will move in opposite directions.

6. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein a pair of arms is pivotally mounted on said frame members to swing with respect thereto, ground engaging elements provided on said arms, latch means for holding said ground engaging elements in ground engaging position, release means connected with said latch means to be actuated upon movement of said carriage beyond a predetermined point, thereby releasing said ground engaging means, and resilient means for moving said ground engaging means fi'om its ground engaging position to a disengaged position.

7. A football practice apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein release means is provided for releasing tension on said resilient means which moves said ground engaging means from ground engaging position to disengaged position.

8. In a football practice apparatus, a wheeled frame, means to normally hold said wheeled frame against rollaside-a 7 ing movement, upwardly converging members on each end of said frame, a medial member positioned between the upperends of said upright members and forming an upwardly inclined,longitudinal'trackway, a transverse member mounted I 'rnovement therealong, a 'padded elementon-each end of on said'longitudinal trackway forsaid transverse member, resilient means Connected be tween said frame and said transverse member to urge said resilient member, and means to release said wheeled frame holding means upon movement of said transverse member along said trackway a predetermined distance against the tension of said resilient means.

.9. A practice device for training athletes; comprising a base, wheels mounting said base for rolling movement thereof over the terrain, two pairs of upwardly and inwardly converging members secured to said base at their lower ends, a medial longitudinal member secured to the upper ends of said upwardly and inwardly converging members and forming an inclined, longitudinal trackway, a carriage, rollers mounted on said carriage, which rollers are in rolling engagement with said longitudinal trackway, a transverse member mounted on and secured to said carriage above said longitudinal trackway, a pad element mounted on each end of said transverse member, resilient means connected between said base and said carriage for urging said carriage and said transverse member downward along said inclined, longitudinal trackway, latch means intermediate said carriage and said trackway to normally retain said carriage against movement thereof downwardly along said longitudinal track'- way, a pivoted arm elementmounted-on-said base, for indicating the initiation of a play, which pivotedarm elementis positioned substantially in a medial plane passing longitudinally through said longitudinaltrackway, which pivotedarm element extends outward from said base;

resilient means connected to'said pivoted arm element, 7 which resilient means urges said pivoted arm element in a direction opposite the direction which said first named resilient means'urges said carriage to move, latch means on said base fornormally holding said pivoted arm against movement due to resilient pressure, aground engaging element pivotally mounted on said base, a third resilient means normally urging said ground engaging element out of 'engagement with said ground, latch means for normally restrainingdisenga'gement of said ground engaging element from the-ground, remote control means connected to said first mentioned-and said second mentioned latch means for simultaneously tripping the latch means which holds said carriage and the latch means which holds said pivoted arm element against movement by their respective resilient 'means, and a further tripping means for releasing said latch holding said ground engag i'ng element in engaged position with the groundwhen said: carriage has moved upward to a predetermined position on said upwardlyinclined trackway. i

10. In a football practice apparatus, a wheeled frame; upwardly converging members mounted on each end of said'frame, a medial member positioned between the up-' per ends of said upwardly converging members and forming an upwardly inclined, longitudinal trackway, a transverse mernb'er mounted on said longitudinal trackway for movement therealong, a padded element mounted on each end of said transverse member, resilient means. connected between said frame and said transverse member to urge said'transverse member longitudinally along said trackway, latch and detent means connecting said transverse member and said longitudinal trackway so as to normally retain said transverse member against tension of said resilient member, means connected to said latch means to release said transverse member for movement thereof along said longitudinal trackway under the influence of said resilient member, ground engaging means on said frame, and means provided on said frame to release said ground engaging means upon movement of said padded elements a predetermined distance along said longitudinal trackway against the tension of said resilient 7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,385 Oakes July 4, 1933' 1,521,649 Paupa Sept. 5, 19 50 2,602,666 Burke et' al. July. 8, 1952 2,696,383